Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending his final race with Mercedes in a disappointing qualifying session. The seven-time world champion, who announced he would be joining Ferrari next season, was eliminated in Q1 and finished 18th.
Hamilton expressed frustration over the performance, stating that he “messed up big time” during his lap. He also acknowledged the team’s mistake by not sending him out earlier, calling it an “idiotic mistake.” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff shared similar sentiments, describing the decision as “inexcusable.”
The qualifying session was marred by chaos, with multiple cars competing for space and several incidents occurring on track. Hamilton’s final lap was further complicated when he drove over a bollard stuck under his car, which may have compromised his performance.
Despite the disappointment, Hamilton took a philosophical approach to his situation. He stated that he would have loved to secure a podium for his teammates but accepted that it “didn’t work out.” The 39-year-old expressed gratitude for the opportunities he had with Mercedes and acknowledged the hard work of his team.
Hamilton’s departure marks the end of an era in F1, as he has won six of his seven world titles with Mercedes. His next chapter with Ferrari begins on Sunday, but he will be sad to leave behind a team that has been like “a second family” to him.
Source: https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/42832065/abu-dhabi-gp-lewis-hamilton-q1-mercedes-farewell